PARISH STAFF
CLERGY
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Born at Providence Hospital and baptized at St. Benedict’s Parish in Anchorage, Fr. Robert Whitney is the older of two sons. He was raised mostly in Anchorage, but the family spent weekends and vacation times in Seward, and later in Old Knik where his parents currently live during the summer months. Very athletic as a youth, he grew up playing sports like baseball and soccer, later running cross country and playing competitive soccer into college. Although the family lived on the East Side, their home parish is Holy Family Old Cathedral downtown.
Fr. Whitney attended and graduated from St. Elizabeth Ann Seton School before attending Lumen Christi for middle school (grades 7-9), and then Holy Rosary Academy, but eventually graduating from Bartlett High School. With a group of friends, he attended the University of Idaho (Moscow), where he read in Classical studies (Greek and Latin language, literature, history and culture) and philosophy.
After completing his BA in Classics he returned home to Alaska to teach middle and high school humanities (History, English, Latin, Religion, etc.) for a couple years before finally answering the call to priesthood and entering formation for the Archdiocese of Anchorage. Attending The Saint Paul Seminary (Minnesota) he completed a Master of Divinity (MDiv) as well as a Master of Arts in Religious Education (MA; University of St. Thomas). His master’s study focused on the doctrine of Divine Filiation and Lectio Divina and was entitled Inhabiting the Gospel as a Child of God.
Ordained a priest in 2017, Fr. Whitney was first assigned to St. Benedict’s Parish, where he also taught at Lumen Christi for two years. His next assignment was at St. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish and School for one year, before being sent to the parishes of the Central Kenai Peninsula (Our Lady of the Angels in Kenai and Our Lady of Perpetual Help in Soldotna) for four years. During that time, he completed his Doctorate in Education (EdD) through the University of Mary (Bismarck). His dissertation was entitled An Educational Aeneid: Themes from the Pedagogy of John Senior for the Restoration of Catholic Liberal Education.
Fr. Whitney enjoys spending time with his family and friends, teaching, reading and study, hiking and kayaking. He is an amateur poet and a Civil War buff. His favorite novels are The Fathers by Allen Tate and Brideshead Revisited by Evelyn Waugh. His favorite spiritual writers are St. Josemaría Escriva and Fr. Jacques Philippe. Fr. Whitney loves being a priest and helping all God’s people to seek, find, and love Jesus Christ, finding holiness in their everyday lives and ordinary work.
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Deacon Kurt has been a parishioner of St. Elizabeth Ann Seton for over 40 years and has served the parish as a deacon since 2015. He was born in Butte, Montana, and moved to Alaska at the age of 16. Deacon Kurt and his wife Joan were married in 1994, have three children, Matt, Paige, and Danielle, and two grandchildren, Owen and Ema.
Deacon Kurt has served the Anchorage community in the Automotive Industry since 1996. Previously, he has worked in the mineral exploration business, environmental drilling and remediation, and the fishing industry.
Deacon Kurt is a 4th-degree Knight in the Knights of Columbus and a member of the Knights of the Holy Sepulchre.
STAFF
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Sarah grew up in Anchorage, Alaska. She has been a part the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton community for 30 years and is an alum of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic School. She holds a BS in Psychology from the University of Alaska Anchorage.
Sarah began her current role in 2017, managing parish communications and ensuring our volunteers are well-equipped to carry out their ministry. She enjoys supporting the church through her work.
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Caroline was born and raised in Cedar Rapids, Iowa, and moved to Alaska in 1971 with her parents and siblings. They attended Saint Anthony Parish in her childhood. As an adult, she joined Saint Patrick’s until officially registering at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton in 2011.
Caroline and her husband Mike have three children: Dustin, Ashley, & Nicholas. Nicholas attended Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton School, where their family has been involved since 2005. Five grandchildren bring extra joy to their days.
With a professional background as a Computer Programmer/Systems Analyst, Accountant, Pastoral Associate of Elementary and Adult Faith Formation at Saint Patrick’s, and Manager of Accounts Payable and Travel at Alaska Native Tribal Health Consortium, Caroline is right at home in her position at SEAS as our Business Manager. Earning a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology from Saint Joseph College in Maine in 2022 further equipped her for serving within the church.
Over the years, many volunteer opportunities in the parish have kept Caroline busy, including the Peace & Justice Ministry, Pastoral Council, Sacristan, RCIA (OCIA) Team, Faith Formation Catechist, and Vacation Bible School, as well as within our parish school by serving as the Faith in Action Coordinator and in various duties with the School Auction.
Caroline says, “What originally drew me to register my family at Saint Elizabeth’s is the service that our parishioners provide within our doors and beyond, especially to those in need, and the community that Nicholas and I had experienced within the school and parish. This community feeds my faith and inspires me to go out of my comfort zone in serving others. It is a double blessing to serve this community in my current role and work together with the entire parish staff to serve our parishioners as they grow in the love of Christ and strive to further His mission.”
Photographing all of God’s beautiful creation, crocheting and quilting are all ways she enjoys her free time.
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Kate Bazin serves as the Pastoral Associate for Evangelization at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Catholic Church in Anchorage, Alaska. In this role, she works with individuals seeking to help their families grow, guided by the light and love of Christ. Kate completed her Doctorate of Education at the University of Mary’s Liffrig Family School of Education and Behavioral Sciences. She previously received a Bachelor of Arts in Philosophy from the University of Dallas and an M.Ed. with an emphasis on Curriculum, instruction, and assessment from the University of Mary. Her studies have focused on the formative capacity of education within the Catholic intellectual tradition. Her research has focused on nurturing healthy family functioning within family-centered catechesis programs.
Dr. Bazin is married to Peter and has one child, John Gregory. She has served on the Board of Directors for Habitat of Humanity Anchorage, is active in Scouting, and coaches a FIRST Lego League Robotics team. In her free time, she enjoys exploring new trails, photography, puzzles, and reading.
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Kellie Thomson was raised in a strong Catholic community in St. Louis, Mo., and graduated in 1991 from Missouri State University with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communication Management. One week after graduation, she moved to Anchorage, Alaska, and within a month, was volunteering as a Confirmation catechist at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish. During the next 15 years, Kellie built her career in both corporate and non-profit communications and served as an active member and the President of the Alaska Chapter of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA), while continuing to volunteer at local Catholic parishes in music and young adult ministry and as a catechist sharing her Catholic faith with students ranging from preschoolers through adults. After marrying her husband, Alec “Curtis”, in 2001, and starting a family, Kellie took a professional sabbatical to raise their children, Liam and XinMei. She spent her sabbatical years doing “pro-bono” public relations/promotions management for Saint Elizabeth School and Parish where she served in leadership roles on the School Board, PVO, and as a volunteer director of Catholic Schools Week and Vacation Bible School.
In August 2014, when her children were attending St. Elizabeth School, Kellie began working part-time to manage the Saint Elizabeth Parish K-12 Faith Formation Program. She continues to lead volunteers and guide families through the sacramental preparation process while serving as an active parent volunteer at Lumen Christi High School. Kellie enthusiastically supports our Archdiocesan school community and strives to bring a joyful and compassionate heart to all those she encounters in her work at Saint. Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish.
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Theresa Austin was born and raised in Southern California with a strong Italian and Irish Catholic background. She went to the California Maritime Academy and graduated with a B.S. in Business Administration in addition to her license to navigate commercial merchant vessels all over the world. In 1993, Theresa married Keith Austin and started sailing for Scripps Institute of Oceanography out of San Diego.
In 2000 Theresa and Keith moved to Anchorage with their children, and she retired from sailing. In 2001 Theresa began teaching Catechism to middle schoolers and in 2002 Theresa started working for the Catholic Church directing youth and young adult ministry. Over time her duties increased, and before she knew it, she was organizing World Youth Day pilgrimages, assisting with the Alaska Catholic Youth Conference and putting on Vacation Bible School along with Faith Formation and Evangelization for the Parish. In her spare time Theresa enjoys working on her YouTube channel, playing golf, pickle ball, hanging out with young people and traveling with her husband Keith.
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A lifelong Alaskan, Amy has been a parishioner at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton since 1994 when she joined the youth group as a teen, and is a Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton School alum where she attended Kindergarten and First Grade.
Amy and her husband Shane have three children: Jeremy, Francesca, and Malcolm, all of whom attended Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton School from Kindergarten through Sixth Grade, and two of the three went on to Lumen Christi High School. The Lockes have run a graphic design business since 2000 that has offered them a platform to gratefully serve the church and school community for many years through many projects.
In both the church and the school, Amy has enjoyed various volunteer and leadership roles with the School PVO, on the Auction Committee and as Auction Co-chair, Youth and Young Adult Ministry, VBS, Faith Formation, the new SPRED program, retreat teams, and more. She and Shane host a weekly Bible Study group, going strong since early 2020. In Spring of 2023, she joined the staff at Saint Elizabeth Parish with great joy and is happy to help the team support the people of the parish in furthering the mission of Christ.
Faith, family, and friends are the cream in her coffee, and she survives the winters to celebrate sunny Alaskan summers. If you see her at church, around town, or out on the hiking trails, please say hello!
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Brogan Lane was born in Ohio in 2001, but soon after moved to Weatherford, TX and remained there for 18 years, claiming Texas as his home and favorite state. He comes from a large military and medical family, most of whom serve in the U.S. Air Force. As a result, Brogan is an experienced and well-traveled person, having visited 42 of the 50 states.
He really enjoys fiction writing and reading as well as any sort of outdoor activities such as camping and hiking. Brogan began discerning the priesthood in his sophomore year of high school and spent the past three years studying philosophy at St. Joseph Abbey and Seminary College in St. Benedict LA as a seminarian for the Diocese of Fort Worth TX. He left the seminary and moved to Alaska in hopes of growing and gaining experiences that will aid him in his discernment and future vocation.
Brogan works in the parish as Pastoral Ministry Intern with a focus on youth and young adults, and utilizes his experiences from seminary to help teach, guide, and walk with those to whom he ministers.
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I was born and raised in Southern California. I attended an all-girls Catholic High School run by the Sisters of Notre Dame. Even while in high school, I volunteered at my parish teaching faith formation. Upon graduation from UCLA in 2002 I began dating my husband Walter. After a ‘once in a lifetime’ cruise to Alaska we decided to begin our married life with an adventure up north. While the adventure was to last only a couple years, twenty years later Walter and I now call Alaska home.
Through those twenty years of marriage the Williams family has grown by three children (Aurora, 16, Wally, 13, and Desirae, 10), a dog (Roxy) and two frogs. As a family we love to travel anywhere we can chase the sun, but particularly if it is on a cruise ship. Summers in Alaska are our favorite as we get to camp and hike and enjoy the wonderful weather.
As a cradle Catholic, I consider it the greatest blessing that Walter joined the Church in 2016. That same year, I began volunteering to lead Vacation Bible School. This volunteer position was integral in my faith journey and commitment to faith formation. Being an integral part of a child’s faith walk and seeing sparks of light in their eyes as they see God’s love for them fills my heart. VBS led to volunteering as the Children’s Catechumenate Catechist. In preparing students for their Sacraments, I continue to learn more about my own faith. The greatest gift of teaching others our faith is that, in teaching, we also are learning. I love the heartfelt and honest questions children have in regards to faith and it is always surprising the depth of answers we can find.
I am grateful to have to opportunity to work for SEAS in a faith formation position. With each passing year, I can only hope that the seeds of faith I am planting will bear great fruit in the years to come, even if I am not the one who gets to see it. Our children are the future of our church and we need to instill in them a love for Christ and His Church. I am honored to be a part of team that will assist families in creating that future.
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Kathy Gustafson was born in St. Paul, MN and raised in Park Rapids, MN. Kathy has an Elementary Education Degree from Bemidji State University plus two masters, one from Grand Canyon University in the Art of Teaching and a second masters in Administration from UAA.
Kathy moved to Alaska to teach in Sand Point, AK in August of 1990 for one year. Then she taught seven years in Dillingham, AK before moving to Anchorage to teach and become a Principal for the Anchorage School District. She met her husband, Sven, in Dillingham, AK. Sven was born and raised in Dillingham, AK and returned to teach in the same teaching position that his father held at the middle/high school. Kathy and Sven have two children, Steven who lives Anchorage and Julie who lives in North Pole, AK with her husband Kaleb McCarter.
She became the Principal at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton School in June of 2015 after 25 years in public education. Kathy was instrumental in starting the Pre-Kindergarten program with Father Steven Moore. She has guided her staff in providing an excellent faith-based education for students in the Anchorage area for the last eight years. Kathy has created a loving and nurturing environment at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton School among staff, students and families. She was a member of Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton Parish for 21 years and taught Catechism for several years for the parish. Her family currently attends Our Lady of the Lakes Catholic Church since they live in Big Lake, AK. Kathy was raised Catholic and attended St. Peters Catholic Parish in Park Rapids, MN during her upbringing.
Kathy enjoys water activities (swimming, boating, fishing, etc.) and winter activities (ice skating, snow machining, fat tire biking, etc.). She also enjoys sewing, cooking and doing arts and crafts in her spare time, and spending time with her family.
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Lauren Rannals was born in Hillsdale, Illinois and moved to Alaska in 1998 at the age of five. She grew up in the Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton community both as a parishioner and as a student at Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton School grades K-6. She then attended Lumen Christi High School grades 7-12 and graduated in 2011. She attended University of Portland and Gonzaga before settling and graduating at Benedictine College in 2015 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Theology.
In the time following her education, Lauren married her husband Michael and they have three children- Peter, Ava, and Katara. She has spent most of the time since her son’s birth in 2017 as a stay at home mom. Her son Peter now attends Saint Elizabeth Ann Seton School, which inspired Lauren to enter into the church community on a deeper level by leading the weekly Mom’s Play Group and becoming a Family Guide leader. She is very grateful and excited to have accepted a part time position at the parish where she can serve her church community even more.
Lauren loves reading, cooking, puzzles, board games with her husband and friends, and spending quality time with the incredible number of extended family they are blessed to have living in Alaska.
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I was born one month after the 64 earthquake in San Diego as my father was serving in the Navy.
My father was indigenous Alaskan. My mother came to Alaska after WW2 on the lap of my grandmother via the Alcan in a Flatbed truck holding all their belongings. They spent the winter in Copper Center before my grandfather took a job shoveling snow in Valdez.
Raised in Valdez, I experienced the calamity of the Pipeline construction and the 1989 oil spill.
I graduated from UAA in 1987 and have worked in maintenance and real estate/property management since.
I enjoy photography and was one of the original trained professional real estate photographers when the sales industry evolved from print.
I bike 52 weeks a year and build custom mountain bikes.
I have two teenage girls who keep me on my toes!
I enjoy my job, the staff and community at SEAS.
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Born in Jamaica, Prince migrated to Mount Vernon, New York at the age of 13. There, he attended George Washington Middle School and Mount Vernon High School. After graduating, he joined the National Guard. He lived with his aunt until she passed away and then he enlisted in the U.S. Army. First stationed in Germany in field artillery, Prince then changed his MOS duties and moved to Missouri to work in Administration. After completing that, he put in to come to Alaska in 1982 and was stationed at Ft. Richardson. He extended his military service until 1989 and stayed in Alaska for its beautiful people and beautiful scenery.
After leaving the military, Prince worked with the Anchorage School District where he stayed until he retired in 2022. What a blessing that he has agreed to work here at our school and parish!
In his free time, Prince is a radio DJ! He began at KSKA and worked there from 1983 to 1995. He now hosts a Reggae show called “Reggae Mixx” every Sunday from 3-6p on 90.3 fm KNBA. Tune in and give him a listen! He is grateful to use his show as a platform to share the love, respect, good manners and appreciation for others that he was taught by his grandparents, aunt and uncle. An important lesson he learned as a child was formative in his firm belief in God: on a hot, sunny day in Jamaica, he was struggling with great hunger and noticed an orange peel in a garbage bin. God instructed him to eat it to survive, and he says that listening to God in life is why he is here today, giving thanks and praise.
Prince says, “I did not grow up with a mother or father or experience love from them. I choose the right way to live by the trust of God for directions. I taught myself to love and respect others as they are, no matter what. One love!”
Hard work has been an important value to Prince since youth, and he credits his grandfather for setting that example. He really enjoys DJ-ing and visiting Moose’s Tooth, Suite 100, or Long Branch Saloon for a good meal. We enjoy his joyful spirit and the positive attitude he shares with those around him!